9th Grade: DNA & RNA 🧬

Interactive Lesson • $\text{Structure}$ and $\text{Function}$ • $\text{Protein}$ $\text{Synthesis}$

The $\text{Central}$ $\text{Dogma}$ of $\text{Biology}$ 📖

  **$\text{DNA}$** ($\text{Deoxyribonucleic}$ $\text{Acid}$) is the permanent genetic blueprint, stored safely in the $\text{nucleus}$. **$\text{RNA}$** ($\text{Ribonucleic}$ $\text{Acid}$) is the temporary working copy used to build $\text{proteins}$ outside the $\text{nucleus}$.

    $$\text{DNA} \xrightarrow{\text{Transcription}} \text{RNA} \xrightarrow{\text{Translation}} \text{Protein}$$
 
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Comparing $\text{DNA}$ and $\text{RNA}$ 🔬

 
   

$\text{DNA}$ ($\text{Blueprint}$)

   

Shape: $\text{Double}$ $\text{Helix}$ (2 strands)

   

Sugar: $\text{Deoxyribose}$

   

Bases: $\text{A}, \text{T}, \text{G}, \text{C}$

   

Location: $\text{Nucleus}$

 
 
   

$\text{RNA}$ ($\text{Worker}$)

   

Shape: $\text{Single}$ $\text{Strand}$

   

Sugar: $\text{Ribose}$

   

Bases: $\text{A}, \text{U}, \text{G}, \text{C}$

   

Location: $\text{Nucleus}$ and $\text{Cytoplasm}$

 
 
   

$\text{DNA}$ $\text{Base}$ $\text{Pairing}$

   

Adenine ($\text{A}$) pairs with **Thymine ($\text{T}$)**.

   

Guanine ($\text{G}$) pairs with **Cytosine ($\text{C}$)**.

 
 
   

$\text{RNA}$ $\text{Pairing}$ $\text{to}$ $\text{DNA}$

   

Adenine ($\text{A}$) on $\text{DNA}$ pairs with **Uracil ($\text{U}$)** on $\text{RNA}$.

   

Thymine ($\text{T}$) on $\text{DNA}$ pairs with **Adenine ($\text{A}$)** on $\text{RNA}$.

 

Protein $\text{Synthesis}$ Steps 🏭

The process of turning genetic information ($\text{DNA}$) into a functional $\text{protein}$ has two main steps:

 

$\text{Transcription}$ ($\text{Copying}$ $\text{the}$ $\text{Code}$)

 

Occurs in the $\text{Nucleus}$. $\text{RNA}$ $\text{Polymerase}$ enzyme unwinds the $\text{DNA}$ gene and creates a single strand of messenger $\text{RNA}$ ($\text{mRNA}$) using the $\text{DNA}$ code as a template.

 

$\text{Translation}$ ($\text{Building}$ $\text{the}$ $\text{Protein}$)

 

Occurs in the $\text{Cytoplasm}$ at the $\text{Ribosome}$. The $\text{mRNA}$ code is "read" in 3-base segments called **$\text{codons}$**. $\text{Transfer}$ $\text{RNA}$ ($\text{tRNA}$) brings the correct $\text{amino}$ $\text{acid}$ for each $\text{codon}$, forming a chain (the $\text{protein}$).

Practice Problems ($\text{Concept}$ $\text{Check}$)

Identify which molecule the statement refers to.

 
   
1) Contains the base $\text{Thymine}$ ($\text{T}$).
   
               
   
 
 
   
2) A single-stranded molecule.
   
               
   
 
 
   
3) Holds the permanent, master copy of the genetic code.
   
               
   
 
 
   
4) $\text{tRNA}$ brings $\text{amino}$ $\text{acids}$ to the $\text{ribosome}$ to build $\text{protein}$.
   
               
   
 

⚡ $\text{Base}$ $\text{Pairing}$ $\text{Challenge}$!

Click the correct base that would pair with the base shown. You are pairing the $\text{DNA}$ $\text{Template}$ to $\text{mRNA}$!

 
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